Vange United are looking to strenghten the Basildon-based club at various age groups. The club's under-14 team are looking for experienced players to join the side playing in Division Three of the Chelmsford Youth League. And Vange are also keen to
AVELEY will be hoping to close the gap on the Ryman League Division One North play-off pack when they host mid-table Northwood at Field Mill tomorrow. Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Til-bury face an uphill battle to get anything from their trip to
IT'S been a mixed few days for us but we want to finish the week on a high by beating Bournemouth tomorrow. We won 4-1 at their place not so long ago but we have to forget all about that because since then they have been in good form and strung together
Rising Southend Athletics Club star Paul Whittaker finished a creditable third in the TCR 10k over the Sandown Park Race Course. Eighteen-year-old Whittaker was the first under-20 athlete to finish the course at Esher, Surrey, on Sunday and was only
FORMER Southend United striker Lee Bradbury returns to Roots Hall tomorrow with nothing but praise for his old manager Steve Tilson and his team. The front runner scored six goals in 52 games for Blues and holds happy memories of his spell with the club
TOP French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli cooked up a feast for lucky gamblers as he launched a new partnership with Maxim's casino, in Westcliff. The flamboyant chef prepared dishes from the new menu he created for the casino, as part of his deal with
A MAN walked free from court after being cleared of murdering his step-daughter. Colin Kendrick, 31, said he felt shattered and was relieved to be going home to spend Valentine's Day with his partner Sarah-Jane Collins. Miss Collins, 22, stood by Mr
BASILDON'S Angela Smith has been voted one of Britain's best looking MPs. The Labour MP for Basildon and East Thurrock was voted ninth "most fanciable" MP, in a poll by her colleagues in Parliament. Mrs Smith, 49, who was labelled one of Blair's Babes
I'LL never forget the day I found out I was different. I'd spent my entire childhood growing up on Canvey and took my first tentative steps towards becoming an adult by stepping off the island and enrolling at Seevic college, in Thundersley, to take my
A DISABLED man was cut free from his car after his accelerator stuck and he drove into his neighbour's house. The collision happened opposite Hawkwell Fire Station, in Main Road, and a woman who heard the crash ran in to alert fire crews to it. Firefighters
THE row over the state of Canvey town centre toilets has been reignited by a parliamentary candidate. Julian Ware-Lane, Lab- our candidate for Castle Point, has added his voice to the chorus calling for the Knightswick Centre toilets to be given a facelift
FEARS are growing Southend is breeding a "benefit culture", as the cost of payouts and tax credits has risen to £71million a year. Worried MPs and business leaders fear there is a growing number of people who rely on the state as a way of life. Figures
MORE than 400 customers have signed a petition demanding a popular sub post office stays where it is. The branch, in the Rochford Convenience Store, North Street, Rochford, which has been the town's post office for the past 40 years, will be relocated
BASILDON council will promote race relations in the event of a massive traveller eviction, it was claimed yesterday. On the final day of the High Court hearing, barrister Paul Epstein QC, representing the council, said: "If the judicial review is not
PAUL Ffrench and Keith Palmer mopped up the medals at the 2008 Eastern Master Championships at Lea Valley. Southend Athletics Club's Ffrench covered 10 events in one day despite decathlons usually featuring 10 disciplines over two days. This time round
PLANS for 30 flats in Hadleigh town centre to replace a car showroom have been submitted to Castle Point Council. Rick Hill Ltd, based in Hadleigh, is hoping to build the flats and three shops on the site of 325 to 339 London Road, which includes a car
Thurrock will be out to propel themselves back into the play-off race with a home win over Newport County tomorrow - denting the Welsh side's own promotion hopes in the process. Fleet are nine points outside the top-five following a disappointing 1-0
THE popular founder of a football club on Canvey has died suddenly. Brian Hills, 65, was well known on the island for starting up the Island Boys and Girls Football Club in 1966, which has grown in popularity from two teams in its infancy to 17 today
FAMILIES have been learning all the tricks of the trade at a circus workshop. The session, at Furtherwick Park School, Canvey, was part of the half-term activities organised by the extended schools partnership. Children and their parents being taught
IN a beauty contest with a difference, Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith has been voted ninth "most fanciable person" in Parliament. The electorate consisted of fellow MPs. Next year, perhaps they should let the public join in, too? It seems
BINGO has been such a part of Essex's social life for so long the prospect of a major bingo club closing its doors sounds unthinkable. Yet the closure of Gala Lakeside is now under consideration. If that happens, 20 jobs will go, along with the loss
TWO cats have died and another two are in a critical condition after being poisoned with anti-freeze. Owner Julie Dines, 50, of Lampits Hill, Corringham, believes they were deliberately targeted after one came home with a chicken skin covered in the
GREAT Wakering Rovers manager Iain O'Connell is predicting that Ryman League Division One North basement boys Wivenhoe Town will escape relegation - despite tomorrow's opponents having won just twice all season. The Dragons have failed to roar this
PLAYBOY Calum Best dropped into a High Street shopping centre to wish everyone a happy Valentine's day - and give one lucky lady a red rose. Lisa Wood, of Argent Street, Grays, received the gift from Calum, the son of football legend George Best, after
The system for recycling in Southend is that everyone, regardless of whether they bother recycling, get the same number of pink sacks delivered to their door. Some people, I'm sure, simply put them in a cupboard or, worse still, put them in a black sack
I have no doubt Castle Point MP Bob Spink's choice of staff to help with his duties as an MP is entirely lawful and, from recent news reports, appears to be common practice within the Houses of Parliament (Feb 7). That is, perhaps, the problem because
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's message about underage drinking and alcohol misuse is to be welcomed. Alcohol is to be enjoyed, but far too often oblivion and reckless behaviour follows on from over-indulgence. I applaud measures to be introduced so that
I was pleased to see the recent story regarding the number 6 bus service in Eastwood being restored after public pressure. Let's hope common sense prevails and the number 24 service is reinstated to serve the Little Wheatleys and London Road area of
Despite more than 100 people signing a petition against building on open space at Pitseaville Grove and Redgrave Road, in Vange, all we have is a South Anglia Housing spokesperson saying the usual planning process has been followed (planning permission
Every day the youth of this country are now feeling attacked and I don't mean by hoodies - I am talking about the older generation. If you believe everything in the media, young people have nothing to offer society but crime, gangs, violence and binge
STRUGGLING East Thurrock United might have had a weekend off, but memories of last week's 1-0 win at AFC Hornchurch are still fresh in the memory of manager John Coventry. And the Rocks boss is hoping his side can continue where they left off when they
BIRTHDAY boy Simon Francis is ready to move into the middle of the Shrimpers defence for tomorrow's clash with Bournemouth at Roots Hall. With Peter Clarke out suspended, Lewis Hunt looks set to return to the starting line-up. But it could well be Francis
ROCHFORD Hundred face a tough task in London Three North East tomorrow as they host second placed Diss. Hundred moved up to fourth in the table with a 17-5 win at Ipswich last weekend but know they must improve if they are to enjoy a similar scoreline
BILLERICAY Town joint-manager Jason Broom has admitted that he has not been surprised by his players' recent fine form. Fifth-placed Town are on a run of four straight league wins and go into tomorrow's home clash against mid-table Harrow Borough seeking
WAR veterans are taking their petition demanding better care for sevicemen all the way to Westminster. Pitsea and Vange Royal British Legion has collected more than 800 signatures from people wanting more respect for the Military Covenant with the armed
CINEMA adverts are usually a tedious affair to be got through before the big picture. But imagine sitting through them waiting to pop the most important question of your life via a cinema screen. That's what 20-year-old Chris Whipps did yesterday, when
WEST Ham are no longer one of the world's 20 richest football clubs in terms of income - but the club is still pressing forward with plans to move to a new 60,000-seater stadium. The 2008 Deloitte Money League report showed that the Irons' revenue fell
Southend Rugby Club captain Andrew McClintock insists Blackheath are there for the taking tomorrow afternoon. The Londoners are fourth in the National Two League table but have lost their last four matches. And McClintock is keen to take advantage.
BEN Hunter finished seventh in his latest international appearance in Belgium. The Leigh-based youngster took on runners from the host nation and a handful of other countries to help England come out on top overall. "I was pleased with my performance
A GIRL spotted by model scouts shopping in Lakeside has appeared on a BBC show. Natalie Hermitage, 19, of Belhus Park, South Ockendon, made it to the final four models of Find Me the Face. The BBC Three documentary series follows two of Britain's top
THE numbers could be up at a south Essex bingo club if it is forced to close because of the smoking ban and Gov-ernment legislation. Management at Gala Bingo will decide at the end of the month if they can afford to keep the chain's Lakeside club open
A SEA of yellow daffodils sprang up in Pitsea as supermarket giants Tesco announced their new charity for the year. Tesco staff were joined by fundraisers and nurses to celebrate the supermarket chain selecting Marie Curie Cancer Care as its new charity
A MAN has been convicted of attacking another man outside a lapdancing club. Billy Sinclair, 20, left Russell Berry with severe head injuries and a broken jaw after hitting him outside Katz in Times Square, Basildon. Mr Berry, 30, had been refused entry
CANVEY Island's World Cup stars have returned from the Caribbean to boost the Gulls' play-off hopes - but neither Danny Francis or Ryan Edgar are guaranteed to start against struggling Wingate and Finchley tomorrow. Francis and Edgar turned out for Dominica
GRAYS Athletic will be hoping the fog has cleared in time for tomorrow's home game against promotion hopefuls Exeter City. Justin Edinburgh's side were all set to face Rushden and Diamonds on Tuesday evening when thick fog descended on the New Rec, leaving
TWO women are limbering up for a huge challenge by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise cash for a Multiple Sclerosis charity. Emma Tyler and Charlotte Hayward, both 22, are raising money for Essex Well MS Therapy Group, which has been a big
PLANS to demolish a Leigh car showroom and build a block of 12 flats have been opposed by the town council. The three-storey block would be built at Westwood Motor Company, in London Road, and include a shop on the ground floor. Previous plans for the
A MAN who claimed he was sunbathing naked in a park to get an overall tan has been sent on a sex offenders' programme and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. John Maher, 34, was found guilty in December of indecent exposure after a young mother contacted police
A TRADITIONAL Leigh shopping arcade should be given listed building status to protect it for the future, town councillors say. Plans to redevelop Clements Arcade, in Leigh Broadway, were opposed by Leigh Town Council at a planning meeting, mainly because
FEW of us could imagine the horrific ordeal endured by Jewish people who lived through the Nazi's persecution and the Holocaust. But for the remarkable people who escaped and made their way to the UK, there is an organisation providing a helping hand
BASILDON ladies hockey club are close to earning promotion to the South East England League. That would be the highest level the team, who host their host home games at Gloucester Park, have played in for 50 years. The first team are 12 points clear
BLUES striker Alex Revell is hoping history can repeat itself when Southend United host Bournemouth at Roots Hall tomorrow. The hard-working forward bagged a hat-trick for Brighton when he last faced the Cherries on New Year's Day And he is now gunning
SOUTH Essex's quirky characters are being celebrated in cyberspace by thousands of young fans. The Owl Man and Salvo the clown are among those with groups devoted to them on the social networking site, Facebook. Salvo the clown, a Southend legend,
STAFF at an insurance firm are taking an extra half-hour lunch break - to enjoy exercise sessions. The Hood Group, based in Warrior Square, Southend, has been holding a Wellbeing Week at Work event, offering healthy activities and advice to its 180
RESIDENTS in Hawkwell are being asked their views on the idea of a "community shelter" for youngsters at the Clements Hall Leisure Centre. The shelter would provide a dry, safe place for young people in the village to meet all year round. If it wins
BUILDING work on Canvey's £8.3m state-of-the-art new primary care health centre is now well under way. The new two-storey health centre is being built in the grounds of the Paddocks Community Centre in Long Road and is running 26 weeks ahead of schedule
RAVI Bopara was likely to be the odd man out as England attempted to salvage their One-Day International series against New Zealand this morning. The Essex all-rounder looked set to be dropped from Paul Collingwood's side after enduring a poor run of
ICE-creams on the pier and visits to the beach have stunned tourist information guides. Harwich Connexions Tourist Information Centre has been surprised to see families and tourists asking about the area and places to visit in the middle of February.
